Lantana Studies Getting County Fire Service

LANTANA — The town could save more than $77,000 a year by switching to fire protection provided by Palm Beach County, county fire officials told the Town Council Wednesday night.

Earlier this year, council members asked county fire officials for a report on the feasibility of replacing the town`s firefighting force with protection from the county. The presentation to council members Wednesday was the culmination of the study.

Council members took no vote on the issue and will talk about it during April 3.

John Sluth, a county fire chief and former Lantana council member, told the council that fire protection costs for all 13 muncipalities contracting with the county are derived from a standard formula based on the muncipality`s tax rate and property evaluation and the county fire department`s annual operating budget.

All estimates made in the report were based on figures from October 1984, he said. In other words, figures provided to the council were calculated by assuming the town began fire service with the county last October.

From that date, Sluth said an annual contract with the county would have cost the town $403,684, while his office calculated the town would spend around $481,000 to provide fire and paramedic services for its residents.

Although he was unable to provide the council with specific figures, Sluth said his department`s operating costs increased 10 percent last year. At least a portion of any annual increases would be borne by the contracting muncipalities, he indicated.

Paramedic service is a critical factor in the proposed switch, according to some council members.

The town currently contracts with John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Atlantis for paramedic service. In February 1984, the town agreed to pay the hospital $59,500 for two years of paramedic services.

The expiration of that contract in February 1986 will mean the council must renegotiate an agreement with JFK Hospital or find other means of providing paramedic service.

``We feel (the switch) would enhance the rest of Palm Beach County`s fire service as well as offer you an excellent option,`` County Fire Rescue Administrator Herman Brice told the council. ``Your fire protection levels would increase immensely.``

Brice said the county would want a long-term contract of at least 10 years. He also told the council he expected the county fire department to be able to hire all 14 firefighters now employed by the town.

Aside from the financial savings, both Sluth and Brice told council members the county could provide aerial rescue and a hazardous material unit, services the town does not have.

Response time throughout the town would also decrease, Sluth said.

Sluth said paramedic response time from JFK Hospital to the town is now 6.6 minutes. If the county took over the town`s fire station, 500 Greynold Circle, response time would decrease to three minutes, Sluth said. If paramedics were dispatched from the county`s closest existing station, at the Lantana Airport on West Lantana Road, response time would be four minutes, he said.

The fate of the town`s existing fire station would be an important part of any contract negotiations, according to Brice.

Assuming ownership of the town`s station would ``enhance protection for the town and also enhance our operations,`` he said.

The contract price would remain the same, however, even if the county assumed ownership of the building, Brice said.

Although no formal council vote was taken, Mayor Henry Johnson and council member Bill Fulton pointed out advantages to the switch.